Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the public participation mechanism by focusing on the petition system in the Gauteng Provincial Government. This case study examined the Evaton Renewal Project, an urban renewal scheme which was initiated in 2004. Concerned residents submitted a petition to force the Gauteng Provincial Legislature to provide answers and feedback on the progress of the Evaton Renewal Project. Bearing in mind that public participation is the main cornerstone of the healthy functioning of democracy, it was therefore prudent and necessary to evaluate whether the petition system has been effective in fostering accountability to citizens. Importantly, despite the presence of petitioning as a public participation method, there is little research that has been done on the effectiveness of petitioning in South Africa.
The study employed a qualitative approach in the form of documentary study, literature and in-depth interviews. The research employed purposive sampling as the main method and snowball sampling (chain referral) as the secondary method. The theories for this study were direct democracy and participatory democracy. The research concludes that there is clear ineffectiveness in how the Gauteng Provincial Legislature petitions process is managed and that the handling of the Evaton Renewal Project was negligent with very little expediency from the departments involved. The petition system is not effective in fostering accountability for citizens. Typical of many state institutions where there is a culture of impunity, the Gauteng Provincial Legislature has demonstrated a slow and unresponsive approach to managing petitions, which has reduced the petition system to a tick-box process. The Gauteng Petitions Standing Committee which is responsible for ensuring that the petitioners' grievances are reported and brought to the attention of the relevant authority has frustrated the Evaton Renewal Project for 10 years.
The study recommends a review of policies and legislation that hinder the department from moving forward and the use of modern-day technology such as electronic data management systems to streamline operations of the department. Lastly, the study recommends that the committee start playing a more effective role in terms of raising awareness about the petition system to promote public participation, especially in areas that have high levels of service delivery challenges.